Display rack



June 26, 1962 J. P. MARCY DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1'7, 1958 INVENTOR. Job/7 Marcy A TOR J. P. MARCY DISPLAY RACK June 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed March 1'7, 1958 R] mm M 1 with;

Unite 3,040,459 DllSPLAY RACK John I. Marcy, 6532 Vista St., San Gabriel, Calif. Filed Mar. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 721,996

4 Claims. (Cl. m -124) j This invention relates to display racks and more particularly, to display means for greeting cards an'd other States atent O 3,@40,459 Patented June 26, 19-62 created by interconnecting the leg members 12 at their upper and lower ends and in such fashion asto maintain Another important aim of theinstant invention is the provision of a display rack which is light in weight yet capable of removably supporting articles being displayed thereon through the medium of a novel arrangement of slots formed on each of a number of leg members respectively.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible display rack which can be easily disassembled for shipping or storing but which presents a novel and attractive appearance when erected and placed in use.

A yet additional object of the present invention is to provide a card display rack composed of anumber of identical, interchangeable units each provided with a series the same in spaced relationship.

As best shown in FIG. 2, leg members .12 are comprised of equal lengths of wire, bent and rebent upon itself to form a number of spaced apart slots 16 in each member '12 respectively. All of the slots 16 face upwardly and are adapted for the reception of thin articles v to be displayed, such asgreeting cards or the like, it being apparent that cards of various sizes and configurations may be simultaneously displayed.

The normally uppermost ends of the leg members 12 are bent to form hooks 18 for respectively engaging holes formed in the marginal edge of upper interconnecting hub 22. Hub 22 may be easily formed from a suitable metal or plastic material and is provided with a hollow, cylindrical projection 24 at the center thereof. The projection 24 is adapted for receiving the upper end of spreader rod 26 serving to support the hub 22.

Spreader rod 26 is in turn mounted in a circular bottom hub 28. The lower end of the rod 26 is received by of slots capable of holding at least one card or similar object so that when the rack is filled, the same assumes a pyramidal-shaped hollow body. 1

In the drawing: FIGURE 1 is a partial top plan view of one form of a display rack made in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; FIG.-3 is an enlarged, detailed top plan view of the .upper interconnecting hub'shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating a few of the leg members interconnected there- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lower interconnecting hubshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating a few of the spokes interconnected therewith, with parts broken away for clearness;' 7

"FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate form 1 of the lower interconnecting hub and the interconnecting end of the spoke;

, invention;

of the FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, vertical, central, sectional view of a rack embodying a further modified form of my FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of theinterconnesting cone used in the modified form of theinvention shown in'FIG. 11; r

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of one end of one leg .member forming a part of the rack shown in FIG. 11, -taken on line 13-16 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of one of the leg members shown inFIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1 15 -15 of FIG. 14. I

The form o-f display rack shown by FIGS. 1 to 7 consists of a plurality of leg members 12 joined in such man-' ner as to form a pyramidal frame 14. The frame 14 is cavity 30 formed in thecenter of said hub 28.

. The hub 28 is also adapted to receive a plurality of spokes 32 and to maintain the same in spaced apart relationship. Spokes 3'2 extend radially of hub 28 andare of equal length, each spoke 32 being bent slightly downwardly at .a point adjacent the peripheral edge of hub 28 as shown in FIG. 6. Each of said spokes is arcuate at thev outermost end thereof, resulting in an upturned portion 34. The end 34 of each of said spokes 32 is provided with a hole 36 for receiving book 38 formed at the lowermost end of each leg member l2 'respectively.

The provision of a plurality of spokes 32, formed as above described, results in hub 28 being supported in a fixed position vertically spaced from the surface upon which the rack may be placed. Furthermore, the provision of spokes-'32, so formed and of proper length, together with the rod 26, of proper length, results in the leg members 12 being held in position under tension.

, Referring again to bottom hub 28, it may, of course, be constructed in several ways to accomplish the desired purpose,'but a construction such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 or 7 is preferable.

The hub 28, as shown by FIGS. 5 and 6, is cylindrical in shape and has an upturned flange 40 at its peripheral edge. Flange 40 is provided with a series of openings 42 spaced about its lower edge, said openings receiving the inner ends 44 of spokes 32 when the display rack is assembled. When inserted through openings 4-2, the inner ends 44 of spokes 32 abut an annular rib 46 forming a stop for said spokes. Cavity 30,'formed in hub 28, is surrounded and partially created by the rib 46 and rerod 26 when the display rack is fully assembled. y

It is important that rod 26 be of such length as to cooperate with spokes 32 to hold leg members 12 under tension between upper hub 22 and the outer end or spokes 32 when the rod 26 is in place as shown in FIG. 2. Spokes 32 should be stiff enough to overcome any tendency to flex when force is applied to tension leg members 12. Openings 42 of the lower hub 28 and holes 20 in the upper hub 22 may be spaced desirable distances apart whereby the leg members 12 are disposed in various spaced relationships to be appropriately adapted to hold various sizes of cards bridging adjacent leg members 12 or mounted directly on any one of said leg members,

Bottom hub 28 shown by FIG. 7 is a flat, annular plate 48 having a series of openings 50 disposed in spaced relation about its marginal edge and having formed in the center thereof a cavity 52 for receiving rod 26. In the form shown in FIG. 7, the inner ends 44 of spokes 32 are oflset to be received by openings 50 to cause the innermost undersurface thereof to lie flat against plate 48. Such an alternate form of hub and spoke configuration may be used if itbecomes necessary to insure that-spokes 32 are securely locked to the hub 28 and therefore, not subject to accidental slipping from the openings 50 in response to a pull on the outer ends thereof or upon a pull exerted upon leg members 12.

In the form of construction shown by FIGS. 1 to 7 it is necessary to manufacture but five different basic parts, namely, leg members 12, all of which are identical in construction; rod 26; bottom hub 28; upper hub 22; and spokes 32, which are also identical. The number of leg members 12 and spokes 32 may be varied depending upon the size of rack desired and upon the number of openings formed in hubs 22 and 28. r

The display rack shown by FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is also generally pyramidal in shape as is the previously mentioned rack illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, but differs in specific construction.

As is evident from the drawing, this rack is comprised of a plurality of leg members 54, the leg members being channeled or U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration whereby to present a pair of opposed sides 56 and 58 and an outwardly facing wall 60 disposed between and joining sides 56 and 58.

A number of tongues are struck from wall 60 to create slots 64, the openings of which normally face upwardly. Due to their arcuate configuration, as best shown in' FIG. 9, tongues 62, being formed from the metal of members 54, are such that when a card or similar article is inserted in slot 64 it will be held tightly in place by the pressure of tongue 62 thereagainst.

Opposed side members 56 and 58 are each provided adjacent the uppermost ends thereof, with corresponding aligned holes 66. Passing through said holes 66 and between sides 56 and 58 of each member 54 respectively is a ring 68 which serves to swingably interconnect all of the leg members 54 adjacent their uppermost ends.

In order to maintain the leg members 54 in spaced apart relation and to form a pyramidal frame therefrom, there is pivotally interconnected to each leg member 54 respectively, at points spaced an equidistance from the lower ends thereof, a spoke 70 which is channeled or U-shaped, similar to members 54. The outer ends of spokes 70 are disposed between side members 56 and 58 and are in abutting relation with the inner surface of wall 6.0, all as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the spokes being held in place by a pin 72. By being pivoted about pin 72 and formed and disposed so as to abut walls 60 of members 54 when disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, spokes 70, when interconnected at their inner ends by a ring 74, will serve to maintain the leg members 54 disposed at like angles of inclination and in the form of a pyramidal frame.

The interconnecting ring 74 passes through holes 75 formed in the inner ends of the side channel members of spokes 70 and it is preferred that lower ring 74 be of a smaller diameter than upper ring 68 in order that the entire rack may be collapsed, somewhat in the fashion of an umbrella. In other words, the rack may be completely collapsed for storing or shipping by swinging spokes 70 upwardly about pins 72 whereby each of the spokes 70 is nested within the channeled leg member 54 to which it is attached. The inner ends of spokes 7 will be retained in interconnecting, spaced relationship by ring 74 which will move vertically toward ring 68 as the spokes 70 are swung upwardly, as above described. Due to its manner of construction, novel combination and disposition of parts, the rack, whenin condition for use, presents a sturdy framework adapted for the display of greeting cards or other articles, but which may be collapsed and stored or moved very simply and quickly merely by shifting ring 74 toward ring 68.

When the rack is in use it is preferred that the lowermost ends of leg members 54 be provided with tips 76 of a rubber plastic or similar material in order to protect the surface upon which the rack may be placed. it is also notable that this rack is constructed from but five different basic pieces, namely, leg members 54, all of which are identical; the spokes 70, all of which are also identical; the upper ring 68; the lower interconnecting ring 74; and the tips 76,.

FIGS. 11 through 15 illustrate yet another form of display rack which may be constructed within the concepts of my invention. This rack is also made of a plurality of leg members 80, the members being interconnected at their uppermost ends, and having a number of card receiving slots formed therein.

As best seen in FIGS. 13-15, leg members 80 are sub stantially T-shaped in transverse cross-section with the base member 82 thereof extending outwardly when leg members 80 are disposed in their normal operative position. Formed in members 82 are a series of substantially vertical, card receiving slots 84. It is also noted that member 82 curves inwardly, and terminates in spaced relation to the upper end of leg 80 and is not received by interconnecting cone 86.

Cone 86 is formed from suitable plastic or metal material and has a number of openings 88 formed therein corresponding with the number of legs constituting the rack. The rack may be assembled by merely inserting the uppermost ends of leg members 80 in the openings 88 in cone 86. Said openings 88 are inclined inwardly and upwardly and thus, legs 80, when inserted therein, are held by the cone 86 in a spaced, pyramidal relationship.

This form of the rack may also be easily assembled and disassembled and, as is evident from the foregoing, requires but two different basic parts, i.e., a cone 86, and the desired number of legs 80. All of the leg members 80 are identical in construction.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A display rack comprising a pyramidal frame having a plurality of normally upstanding leg members each including a single length of material, said members converging inwardly at like angles of inclination as their upper ends are approached, the leg members terminating at their upper ends in a circumferentially spaced, circular pattern; uppermost and lowermost means removably interconnecting the leg members to maintain the same in spaced apart relation and at said angles of inclination, the outwardly facing surfaces of each leg member having, means for mounting articles to be displayed thereon; and an elongated rod disposed between said interconnecting means and centrally of said pyramidal frame.

2. A display rack comprising a pyramidal frame having a plurality of normally upstanding leg members converging inwardly at like angles of inclination as their upper ends are approached, the leg members terminating at their upper ends in a circumferentially spaced, circular pattern; uppermost and lowermost means interconnecting the leg members to maintain the same in spaced apart relation and at said angles of inclination; an elongated rod disposed between said interconnecting means and centrally of said frame, the lowermost interconnecting means consisting of a hub supporting said rod; and spokes joining the lowermost ends of each member respectively and said hub, the outwardly facing surfaces of each leg member having means for mounting articles to be displayed thereon.

3. A display rack comprising a pyramidal frame having a plurality of normally upstanding leg members converging inwardly at like angles of inclination as their upper ends are approached, the leg members terminating at their upper ends in a circumferentially spaced, circular pattern; uppermost and lowermost means interconnecting the leg members to maintain the same in spaced apart relation and at said angles of inclination; an elongated rod disposed between said interconnecting means and centrally of said frame, one of said interconnecting means comprising a hub for supporting said rod at its lowermost end; and spokes joining said hub with each of the normally lowermost ends ,of each member respectively, each of said leg members consisting of a length of wire bent and rebent upon itself to form a number of article receiving slots therein.

4. A display rack as set forth in claim 3 wherein said 7 spokes are arcuate whereby to maintain said hub spaced from the supporting surface of the display rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS D. 157,082 Patton Jan. 31, 1950 

